Variable inertia flywheel
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDavid Allen Janson, Gregory Daniel Goleski, John Matthew Ginder, Larry Dean Elie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable inertia flywheel and clutch assembly having a primary flywheel mass rotationally fixed to an engine crankshaft and a secondary flywheel mass selectively engageable with a clutch disc, which is rotationally fixed to a transmission input shaft. A radial spring assembly is coupled between the primary mass and the secondary mass, as well as a latching assembly that can latch to selectively prevent relative rotation between the primary mass and the secondary mass. Preferably, the latching assembly is also employed as a variable damper between the primary mass and the secondary mass when the latching assembly is not latched.
Claims12
A flywheel and clutch assembly for transferring torque from an engine crankshaft to a transmission input shaft, the assembly comprising:
- a primary mass adapted to be rotationally fixed to the engine crankshaft;
- a clutch disc adapted to be rotationally fixed to the transmission input shaft;
- a secondary mass rotationally engageable with the clutch disc for transferring torque thereto;
- a spring assembly coupled between the primary mass and the secondary mass;
- and
- a latcher connected between the primary mass and the secondary mass that is engageable to rotationally fix the primary mass to the secondary mass, and wherein the latcher includes a pair of cavities and a channel extending between the cavities defined be a first member, which forms a portion of the primary mass, and a second member, which forms a portion of the secondary mass, with the latcher further including a magnetorheological fluid contained within the cavities and channel that has a selectively variable viscosity, and with the latcher including a viscosity means, having an electromagnetic coil adjacent to the cavities and the channel, for selectively causing the viscosity of the fluid to change.
A flywheel and clutch assembly for transferring torque from an engine crankshaft to a transmission input shaft, the assembly comprising;
- a primary mass adapted to be rotationally fixed to the engine crankshaft:
- a clutch disc adapted to be rotationally fixed to the transmission input shaft;
- a secondary mass rotationally engageable with the clutch disc for transferring torque thereto;
- a spring assembly coupled between the primary mass and the secondary mass;
- and
- a latcher connected between the primary mass and the secondary mass that is engageable to rotationally fix the primary mass to the secondary mass, the latcher including a pair of cavities and a channel extending between the cavities defined by a first member, which forms a portion of the primary mass, and a second member, which forms a portion of the secondary mass, with the latcher further including a viscous fluid contained within the cavities and channel that has a selectively variable viscosity, and with the latcher including a viscosity means for selectively causing the viscosity of the fluid to change.
A vehicle driveline comprising:
- an engine crankshaft;
- a transmission input shaft;
- and
- a flywheel and clutch assembly including a primary mass rotationally fixed to the engine crankshaft, a clutch disc rotationally fixed to the transmission input shaft, a secondary mass rotationally engageable with the clutch disc for transferring torque thereto, a spring assembly coupled between the primary mass and the secondary mass, and a latcher connected between the primary mass and the secondary mass that is engageable to rotationally fix the primary mass to the secondary mass, the latcher including a pail of cavities and a channel extending between the cavities defined by a first member, which forms a portion of the primary mass, and a second member, which forms a portion of the secondary mass, with the latcher further including a viscous fluid contained within the cavities and channel that has a selectively variable viscosity, and with the latcher including a viscosity means for selectively causing the viscosity of the fluid to change.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.